Article of furniture



Jan. 22 1924. 1,481,560

S. RINGER I ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed June 11 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1WITNESS: I 7 INVENTOR.

4M? BY.

A TTORNE Y.

Jan. 22 1924. 1,481,560

- 5. RINGER Filed June 11. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY J4.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 22, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

SOBEN RINGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Application filed June 11, 1920. Serial No.388,202.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SoREN RINGER, a subject of the King of Denmark,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in an Article of Furniture,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to furniture, and more particularly towhat is commonly known as knock-down furniture, which is adapted to beshipped in knockdown condition and assembled by the purchaser.

One of the primary objects of my present invention is to provide anarticle of furniture, which can be shipped in knock-down condition, sothat it will occupy a minimum space, and one which can be quickly andeasily assembled by unskilled labor, and, when assembled, will beextremely strong, substantial and durable, as well as pleasing inappearance.

Another object of my invention is to pro- Vide an article of furniture,which is adaptable for many uses, and one which is capable of conversionfrom one use to another by simply re-arranging or substituting theinterior structure, which is made up of knockdown pieces, capable ofassembly into a variety of different arrangements.

A further object of my invention is to provide an article of furnitureof the character indicated, which will not become loose in the joints asthe result of use or of atmospheric conditions to which it may besubjected, but will automatically maintain a snug fit between thevarious parts and retain its strength and rigidity without attention orrepairs.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of my invention willbe readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following description, when considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet frame embodying my invention,showing the manner of assembly;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the side panels clamped in position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view from beneath the top;

F g. 4 is a similar view of the bottom;

Fig. 5 1s a plan view showing a modified form of clamping means;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of theinvention;

Fig. 7 is an interior view of one side of the structure shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a similar View showing the side panel clamped in position;

Flg. 9 is a fragmentary plan view showlng both the inner and outer sidepanels in posltion;

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing a slightly modified form of inner sidepanel;

F igs. 11 and 12 are perspective views of woiden and metal side panelsrespectively; an

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. v8 showing a modified form of clampconstruction similar to that disclosed in Fig. 5.

By reference to the drawings, and particularly Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, itwill beobserved'thatthe frame structure of the cabinet comprisesprimarily, a pair of frames designated generally by reference characters14 and 15 respectively. One of these frames constitutes the front, andthe other the back of the cabinet, the front frame consisting of uprightcorner posts 16 and 17 joined by the top and bottom cross pieces 18 and19 respectively, while the rear frame, which is similarly constructed,comprises the upright corner posts 21 and 22, and the transverse members23 and 24. The back frame is provided with a back panel 25 rigidlysecured thereto and. the front frame may be provided with one or moredoors of any well known or preferred construction.

These frames are pivotally connected together at top and bottom by aplurality of toggle links 26, each toggle comprising two links pivotedtogether at their inner ends and each pivoted to the cross members ofthe front and rear frames respectively. By swinging the pivotalconnection between the respective links of each toggle inwardly, thefront and rear frames may be collapsed or moved together so that theyoccupy a space only twice the thickness of each corner post. The cabinetis designed to be shipped in the springs to the under LhlS knock-downcondition with the other parts thereof nested inside the frames, so thatthe entire thickness for shipment and storage is. only twice thethickness of each frame, and when thus collapsed, the cabinet obviouslyoccupies a minimum of space.

Each corner post is provided on its in ner face with a longitudinalgroove 27, these grooves being opposed when the frames are in extendedor separated position, as shown in Fig. 1, and in assembling thestructure, a side panel 28 is slid longitudinally into these groovesfrom above. As illustrated in Fig. 1. the grooves extendi downwardly inthe posts a distance equal to the length of the side panel to beemployed, so that when the panels are positioned in the grooves, theirupper ends lie flush with the top of the frame.

The length of the toggle links is such that when straightened out asshown in Fig. 1, the side panels slide easily into place, but when oncepositioned, they are firmly clamped between the side fames so as to forma very rigid construction by drawing the pivotal connections between thelinks of each toggle toward each other, thus exerting a strong andeffective clamping action upon the side panels by the frames. Thisclamping action is effected preferably by coiled tension springs 29 and31, which are hooked or otherwise connected to the pivot points ofopposed toggles so that the toggles are drawn inwardly by the springs toeffect the clamping action previously mentioned, as is best illustratedin Fig. 2.

Before the clamping action is effected, the bottom 32 of the cabinet isplaced in position within the frame. This bottom is simply a fiat board;provided with notches 33 at the corners, adapted to fit the corner postsof the frames. and it is so proportioned that when placed in position,it squares up the structure. The top 34, which is provided with adownwardly projecting circumferential flange or bead 35, is then placedin position over the upper end of the cabinet, thus completing thestructure, except for the doors and the interior shelving or otheraccessories, which are not shown.

While the clamping springs 29 and 31 may be structurally independent ofthe remainder of the cabinet, I refer to attach 7 aces of the top andbottom 32 and 34 respectively, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, so thatthe springs not only serve to effect the clamping of the side panelsbetween the front and rear frames, but also serve to hold the top andbottom in position against accidental displacement.

Instead of the springs 29 and 31, other means for drawing the togglelinks 26 together may be employed, and is Fig. 5, I

have illustrated one practical method for accomplishing this purpose,which consists of a pair of rods 36 and 37 respectively provided withhooks at their outer ends to engage the toggle links and threadedto.accommodate a turnbuckle 38, which may be screwed up to exert thedesired clamping action between the frames and the side panels.

The side panels 28 may be equipped with cleats 39 or other types ofshelf supports if desired, but in many instances, it is desirable tohave a second or inner side panel which carries theinteriorconstruction. A structure adapted to employ both inner and outerside panels is illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein it Will be observed thatthe corner posts are equipped with'not only grooves 39 for the receptionof the outer side panels 28, but also with inner grooves 41 in which theinner panels 42 are loosely disposed, so that they are capable ofremoval without releasing the clamping action upon the outer panels 28.

When both inner and outer side panels are employed, it is preferable toarrange the toggle links so that they swing vertically instead ofhorizontally, and I have therefore illustrated such an arrangement inFigs. 6 to 9 inclusive, in which the toggle links 43 are pivoted attheir-outer ends directly into the corner posts themselves and aredisposed between the inner and outer side panels, as illustrated in Fig.9. In this construction, the spring by which the toggles are drawntogether to effect the clamping action between the corner posts and sidepanels are disposed vertically, as illustrated in Fig. 8 where the onespring is indicated by reference character 44. In lieu of the spring 44the turn-buckle construction 45 of Fig. 13 may be employed, ifpreferred.

One of the inner panels 42, equipped with I shelf supporting cleats 46,is illustrated in Fig. 11. Another form of panel, made of metal, isindicated by reference character 47 in Fig. 12. It should be understoodthat either wooden or metal panels may be employed for both the innerand outer panels of the construction, or one may be made of wood and theother of metal, as preferred. The metal panel 47 shown in Fig. 12 alsois equipped with shelf supporting provisions in the form of inwardlyprojecting ears or studs 48 struck inwardly from the body of the metalitself.

It will be observed from Fig. 9 that the inner panel fits somewhatloosel in the grooves of the corner posts so that it may be removedwithout releasing the clamping effect upon the outer side panel. Thisenables the inner panels with the shelves or other equipment carriedthereby, to be removed bodily from the cabinet, and other equipment tobe substituted therefor without releasing the clampin members. Anothermanner of accompIishing the same result is illustrated in Fig. 10,wherein the inner panel 49, instead of sliding in grooves in the cornerposts, simply sets in recesses 51, formed in the inner faces of thecorner osts. These panels can therefore, be placed in position fro-m theinside without removing the top of the cabinet, and are held againstdisplacement by the shelves, which are supported by the side panels andextend transversely between them.

In assembling this structure, in case the fioor upon which it is to setis uneven or irregular, the frame structure can be racked so that itwill set evenly and b vertically disposed, before the toggles are brokento effect the clamping action, and when the cabinet has been positioned,and the clamps tightened up, it will set squarely upon the floor andwill rigidly remain in this slightly racked or distorted position. Itwill be obvious that the continuous tension upon the toggle links servesto keep the joints tight and prevent any looseness or flexibility, whichin time customarily becomes inherent in cabinets and other furniture asthe result of atmospheric conditions.

It is believed that my invention, its structure, mode of assembly andmany of its attendent advantages will be understood from the foregoingwithout further descri tion, but while I have shown and describepreferred embodiments thereof, it should be obvious that the inventionis capable of considerable modification and variation without departingfrom the essence of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An article of furniture, comprising a pair of frames, a plurality ofpairs of toggle links connectin said frames and permitting the same tobe isposed in collapsed relation, side panels slidably engageable withand adapted to be disposed between said frames, a detachable bottom, adetachable top, and means for actuating said toggles to clamp said anelsbetween said frames.

2. n article of furniture,comprising a pair of frames, a plurality ofpairs of toggle links connecting said frames and permitting the framesto be disposed in collapsible relation, side panels adapted to bedetachably interposed between the sides of said frames, a detachable topand a detachable bottom associated with said frame structure, and meansoperating upon said toggles for drawing the frames toward each other toclamp the side panels snugly therebetween.

3. In a knockdown article of furniture, the combination of a pair offrames, side panels disposed between said frames, inner side panelsspaced from said first mentioned panels also disposed between saidframes, shelf supports carried by said inner panels, toggles connectingsaid frames, and means acting on said toggles for forcing Said framestoward each other to clamp both said inner and outer panels in positionbetween said frames.

- SOB-EN RINGER.

